Kaos' Furies Explained: Who They Are In Greek Mythology

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Kaos

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Kaos.

While some gods – like Hera and Dionysus – play a central role in the story, others have a much less prominent role. Medusa is only featured in a handful of scenes, but she helps run the Underworld. Daedalus is a captive of King Minos, helping him run his estate. Even Achilles gets a nod through an Easter egg at the grocery store. However, three of the most fascinating characters, The Furies, have a significant role in Kaos' story while only appearing onscreen for 20 minutes collectively. These figures from Greek mythology are essential to understand.

The 3 Furies In Greek Mythology Explained

The Furies Appear In Many Written Accounts Of Greek Mythology

The Furies are a fascinating group of goddesses who briefly appear in Kaos. In Greek mythology, the Furies are called the Erinyes or occasionally the Eumenides and the Semnai. Intially, the number of Furies wasn't specified, but the Greek mythology writers eventually narrowed the number down to three. They are the goddesses of vengeance named Alecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone, who punish those who commit crimes against the gods and the social order.

According to the Theoi Project, the Furies were born from the blood of the primordial gods Ouranus (Uranus) and Gaea when their son, Kronos (Cronos), castrated Uranus, and his blood fell onto Gaea. This is the most common origin; however, two other stories exist. In Aeschylus's plays, the Erinyes were born from Nyx, and in Sophocles's plays, they were the daughters of Erebus and Gaea. Each goddess specializes in a specific type of crime, but they often still work together.

Name in Mythology

Crime Specialty

Name in Kaos

Actor

Alecto, the unceasing	Moral crimes	Alecto	Cathy Tyson
Megaera, the grudging	Infidelity and dishonesty	Meg	Natalie Klamar
Tisiphone, the avenger	Murder	Tisi	Donna Banya

The appearance of the Furies varies greatly across written sources and artistic depictions. Possible visual traits include batwings, snakes woven into their hair and around their arms, red eyes, heads of dogs, and black robes. In visual mediums, they are usually depicted as soft-featured huntresses with snakes woven into their hair and torches in their hands. With such a broad depiction of the Furies, the Netflix series could depict the goddesses however they wanted, as long as the Kaos characters seemed tough and strong. Luckily, they knocked it out of the park, dressing up Tyson, Klamar, and Banya in biker clothes.

The Furies Are Said To Punish Mortals In Greek Mythology

The Furies Are Described As Merciless

The furies stand in a hotel room in Kaos

When called upon, the Furies leave the Underworld – where they live – to torture, punish, or curse their targets. The Furies can attack either a single individual or a nation, depending on who is culpable in a crime. The Furies' punishments can vary from plaguing a nation to taking away someone's sanity to inflicting them with debilitating guilt. The people being punished can only escape the Furies if they perform a purification ritual or an act of atonement.

Notable individuals who escaped the Furies' punishment are Orestes, who killed his mother, and Herakles (called Hercules in Roman mythology), who killed his wife and children. According to The Oresteia by Aeschylus, Orestes only escaped justice by appealing to Athena, who granted him a trial. After a split judgment, Athena showed him mercy, acquitting him of his crimes. Meanwhile, Herakles purified himself of the murders by completing the famous 12 Labors of Heracles, according to Mythology Unbound by Jessica Mellenthin and Susan O. Shapiro (via UEN)

When the Furies aren't attacking the criminals on Earth, they have an important role in the Underworld, according to Plato's Phaedo. After souls are judged by Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Aecus – three sons of Zeus – the goddesses of vengeance purify the sins of the good and drag the evil down to the dungeon of the damned in Tartarus. They then oversee the torture of those in their dungeon. Their job within the Underworld is removed in Kaos because there's no judgment of souls, and there aren't three levels of the Underworld, at least as far as has been shown in season 1.

The Furies' Role In Kaos Explained

The Furies Inform Ari Of The Truth

Though they're only in Kaos for two episodes, the Furies have a significant impact on Ari's story. She believes they're coming after her to punish her for killing Glaucos as a child, not learning until the end of Kaos season 1 that he's still alive. Her fears indicate that they have a similar role of vengeance and retribution in this version of Greek mythology.

However, the Furies actually come to her as bearers of truth, informing her about the betrayal of her father and Daedalus. It seems plausible, based on the number of mythical figures and gods working against the god of thunder, that they also know this will help bring Zeus' prophecy to pass. However, they could also be going to Ari with the knowledge that she will kill her father for his crime. As such, Kaos' Furies' less violent methods could still have a degree of maliciousness, like their mythological counterparts.

Sources:Theoi Project, The Oresteia by Aeschylus, Phaedo by Plato, Mythology Unbound by Jessica Mellenthin and Susan O. Shapiro, and UEN

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